Jahnke, Zdzisław (EN)

Jahnke Zdzisław, *9 February 1895 Poznań, †7 August 1972 Poznań, Polish violinist and teacher, son of Edwin Jahnke. He received his initial musical training from his father and, from 1904, studied with A. Petschnikoff in Berlin. In 1907 he continued violin studies with H. Marteau at the conservatory in Geneva, and subsequently at the Königliche Hochschule für Musik. Between 1910 and 1913 he furthered his studies in music theory and composition under P. Ertel in Berlin. Jahnke gave his first public concert in Poznań on 25 October 1903. Beginning in 1908, following his debut at the Warsaw Philharmonic, he pursued a career as a virtuoso violinist, performing throughout Poland and abroad, including appearances in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Geneva, and Paris. In 1920 he founded the Polish Quartet (Kwartet Polski), consisting of Zdzisław Jahnke – first violin, T. Gonet – second violin (later replaced by W. Witkowski and L. Kwaśnik), T. Szulc – viola, and D. Danczowski –cello. During more than twenty-five years of activity (until 1948), the ensemble achieved a distinguished artistic reputation, performing classical, Romantic, and contemporary repertoire in Poland and abroad. Its work contributed significantly to the development of Polish chamber music during the interwar period. Alongside his performing career, Jahnke was active as a teacher and organizer of musical life in the regions of Greater Poland and Pomerania. In 1920 he assumed charge of the virtuoso violin class at the State Academy and School of Music in Poznań, later renamed the State Conservatory of Music in Poznań. He served as its director from 1930 to 1939. He was also a co-founder of the Municipal Conservatory of Music in Bydgoszcz and, during the interwar years, appeared as a conductor. During the German occupation he lived in the Kielce region. After World War II, he organized the first symphonic concerts in Poznań, laying the groundwork for the later activities of the city’s philharmonic orchestra. From 1945 to 1948 he served as rector of the State Higher School of Music in Poznań, where he subsequently worked for many years as head of the string department and professor of violin, chamber music, and symphony orchestra. Jahnke served as chairman and juror of the international violin-making and violin competitions named after H. Wieniawski. He published pedagogical works and instructional manuals for violinists and was also active as an editor, preparing performance editions of several hundred Polish and foreign works for violin. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, he received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Artistic Award of the City of Poznań, the SPAM Award, and the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

Literature: B. Ciszewski Zdzisław Jahnke, “Ruch Muzyczny” 1963 no. 4; 50 lat PWSM w Poznaniu, Warsaw-Poznań 1973; S. Stuligrosz Profesor Zdzisław Jahnke, “Kronika Miasta Poznania” 1974 no. 3.